Cover for milk-cans



0. SMEADER.

COVER FOR MILK CANS.

No. 363,090. PatentedMay 17, 1887 (No Model.)

N. PETERS, Phm-umu n mr. wu'hin m. D. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

OTTO SMEADER, OF SOUTH NEYV BERLIN, NEW YORK.

'COVER FOR MILK-CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,090. dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed March 18, 1887.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO SMEADER, a citi zen of the United States, residing at South New Berlin, in the county of Ohenango and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Covers for Milk-Cans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in covers for milk-cans; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that willbe more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view ot a cover embodying my improvements. Flg. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line a: x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side 1elevation showing the cover in another posi- A represents a circular cover, provided with a depending circular flange, B, which is adapted to fit in the neck Got a milk-can, jar, or other vessel. The cover is made of two semicircular sections, D and E. connected together by means of hinges F. From the straight edge of the section D projectsa vertical flange, G, which rises from the said section and has its upper edge bent at right angles to a horizontal position to form the horizontal ledge H. The opposing straight edge of the section E is bent upward to form a vertical flange, I, which is adapted to catch under the ledge H and to bear against the vertical flange G when the sections D and E are in line with each other. On the upper side of the ledge H, at the center thereof, is a strap or keeper, K, to which is secured the central portion of a lever, L;

M represents a screw, which rises from the section D and extends through an opening made in one end of the lever L. A thumbnut, N, is screwed on the threaded end of the screw and bears upon the upper side of the lever L.

0 represents a loop or keeper, which is hinged or pivoted to the lower side of the section E and is adapted to engage the free end of the lever L, so as to lock the sectionsD and E of the cover when the same are arranged in line with each other and in the same plane.

The operation of my inventionis as follows:

Serial No. 231,438. (No model.)

In order to apply the cover to the milk-cans, the thumb-nut is screwed upwardly on the screw M, so as to release the lever L, and the keeper or loop 0 is also disengaged from the said lever and the sections of the cover are turned to an angle, as shown in Fig.3. This enables the cover to be readily placed in the milkcans, and the same is then bent to a horizontal position in the milk-cans and the loop or keeper 0 is caused to engage the free end of the lever L. The thumb-nut N is then screwed downward on the screw M and caused to depress the other end of thelever N, and thereby straighten out the sections of the cover and cause them to enlarge so as to snugly fit in the can and effect a tight joint therewith, and thus prevent milk from slopping out of the can when in transportation. In order to remove the cover from the can, the keeper or loop O is slipped from the end of the lever L, and the said lever is grasped and drawn upward, thereby causing the cover to bend on its hinged joint and release its hold of the sides.

I do not desire to limit myself to the use of my improved cover with milk-cans, as it may be also advantageously employed in connec tion with fruit-jars and other vessels.

Having thus described my invention, I clai n1-- 1. The cover for milk-cans, fruit-jars, and other vessels, comprising the two semicircular sections D and E, having opposing straight edges hinged together, and provided with the vertical flanges G and I, adapted to close to gether when the sections are on the same plane, substantially as described.

2. In a cover for cans or vessels, the combination of the sections D and E, hinged together, the bar or lever L, fulcrumed or fitted to one of the sections, the screw connecting the said lever to the said section, and the loop secured to the other section to engage the free end of the lever, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. In a cover for milk-cans, fruit-jars, and other vessels, the semicircular section D, having the vertical flange G on its straight edge,

-in combination with the semicircular section E, having the vertical flange I on its opposing straight edge, the hinges connecting the straight edges of the sections together, the In testimony that I claim the foregoing as lever L, fulcrumed on the flange I, the adj ustmy own I have hereto affixed my signature in ing-screw connecting one end of the lever to presenee of two Witnesses.

one of the hinged sections and the loop se- OTTO SMEADER. cured to the opposite section to engage the Witnesses:

other end of the lever, for the purpose set ORSON (llWITOHELL,

forth, substantially as described, WALTER R. BABOOOK. 

